What is Microsoft Office 365?
Microsoft Office 365 is Microsoft’s subscription-based offering for the Office experience, built around a bundle of productivity tools and cloud services (what’s included depends on the specific plan). This cloud-powered productivity platform includes Microsoft’s core productivity tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams (exact apps and features depends on the plan). Microsoft 365 is commonly used as a set of productivity and collaboration tools for individuals and teams, especially when you need collaboration tools for business, like Teams plus cloud file access via OneDrive. And yes, if you’re searching for a microsoft office suite for mac, Microsoft 365 includes Office apps for Mac as well (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and OneDrive are listed on Microsoft’s Mac page). Because the category overlaps with Google Workspace, you’ll often see comparison searches like microsoft office vs google suite or google suite vs microsoft 365 when buyers are evaluating which platform best fits their workflow.
Overview
Work smarter with Microsoft Office 365’s all-in-one productivity and collaboration tools for business and personal use.
TL; DR
- Word, Excel & PowerPoint for productivity essentials
- Outlook & Teams for communication and teamwork
- OneDrive cloud storage and file sharing
- Power BI and analytics for business intelligence
- Cross-device access with enterprise-grade security
Microsoft Office 365 is the world’s most widely used productivity software, combining Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and more into a unified suite. With cloud-based Microsoft 365, users get collaboration, storage, and security features designed for businesses, students, and everyday productivity.
Everything That’s Included in Microsoft Office 365 Pricing in 2026
| Word | |
| Excel | |
| PowerPoint | |
| Outlook | |
| Microsoft Teams (meet/chat/collaborate) | |
| OneDrive (cloud storage + file sharing) | |
| SharePoint (team sites + internal sharing) | |
| Exchange (business-class email + calendaring) | |
| Admin controls (for business plans) | |
| Security features (for business plans) | |
| Office apps on Mac |
Get 15% off Google Workspace with Elevate.store’s exclusive email marketing deal!
Claim here All deals are FREE. No credit card required.Why You Need a Productivity Suite
Most teams don’t just need “docs.” They need a connected set of productivity tools that covers the daily loop: creating files, emailing, scheduling, meeting, and sharing work without juggling a dozen logins and file versions. That’s what a productivity suite is built for: one subscription that bundles core productivity and collaboration tools so work can move from draft → review → meeting → follow-up without everything living in separate islands. Microsoft Office 365 (Microsoft 365) is Microsoft’s cloud-powered productivity platform. Microsoft describes Microsoft 365 as including “the latest productivity apps” such as Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneDrive, along with cloud services and security (exact capabilities depend on the plan). Quick note while you compare suites: Elevate.store currently has a 15% off deal on Google Workspace (another productivity suite) if you want a lower-cost option to evaluate alongside Microsoft.
Important Microsoft Office 365 features
- Core Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint): Create and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations across desktop, web, and mobile experiences (availability depends on the plan you’re on).
- Outlook for email + calendar: One hub for email, scheduling, and calendar coordination, which is especially useful when teams are running on meetings, follow-ups, and shared availability.
- Microsoft Teams for communication: Team chat, calls, meetings, and collaboration in one place, so conversations don’t live in ten different tools and threads.
- OneDrive for cloud storage: Store files in the cloud, access them from anywhere, and share them without emailing attachments back and forth.
- Real-time collaboration: Co-author documents and collaborate on files without passing versions around.
- File sharing + permissions: Share documents with teammates or external partners, control access, and reduce the risk of accidentally circulating the wrong version.
- Cross-device access: Use your work across laptop, phone, and tablet so you’re not blocked when you’re away from your main machine.
- Business-ready admin controls (plan-dependent): Centralized user and access management for organizations, so IT can handle onboarding, permissions, and account-level policies from one place.
- Security and compliance features (plan-dependent): Built-in security and compliance capabilities that vary by plan, designed for businesses that need stronger controls around data and access.
- Office for Mac support: Microsoft offers Office apps on Mac too, which matters if your team is mixed-device or fully Apple.
- Extensible ecosystem: Microsoft 365 is often used alongside other Microsoft services and third-party apps, so teams can integrate workflows instead of rebuilding them from scratch.
Save 15% on Google Workspace with Elevate.store’s exclusive deal on email marketing.
Claim here All deals are FREE. No credit card required.Frequently Asked Questions
What is Microsoft Office Suite?
People often use “Microsoft Office suite” as a generic label for Microsoft’s Office apps. Today, it usually points to Microsoft 365, Microsoft’s subscription bundle of Office apps plus cloud services (what you get depends on the plan).
What is Microsoft Suite?
In a typical Microsoft 365 setup, the “Office” part usually includes apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and often Outlook (exact apps depend on your plan and whether you’re buying for home or business).
What is included in Microsoft Office Suite?
Beyond the core apps, Microsoft 365 often includes cloud services that support modern work, like OneDrive storage and collaboration features. Business plans may also include services like Exchange (business email) and SharePoint (for team sites and document management), depending on the plan.
Is Teams part of Microsoft Office Suite?
Sometimes. Microsoft Teams is included with many Microsoft 365 business subscriptions, but Microsoft also sells versions of some business plans without Teams in certain markets. So the accurate answer is: it depends on the specific plan and region.
Is SharePoint part of Microsoft Office Suite?
SharePoint is generally associated with business Microsoft 365 plans (as SharePoint Online). It’s not typically described as part of a consumer “Office suite” in the same way Word/Excel/PowerPoint are. If SharePoint matters to you, you’ll want to check the exact business plan inclusions.
Is PowerPoint part of Microsoft Office Suite?
Yes. PowerPoint is one of the core apps commonly included in Microsoft 365 plans that include the Office desktop apps (and it’s also available via web/mobile experiences depending on the plan).
Is Outlook part of Microsoft Office Suite?
Often, yes. Outlook is commonly i[object HTMLDivElement]ncluded in Microsoft 365 plans, but whether you get the full desktop app (vs web/mobile) depends on the plan.
Is Excel part of Microsoft Office Suite?
Yes. Excel is a core Office app and is commonly included in Microsoft 365.
What is Microsoft Office lifetime suite?
“Microsoft Office lifetime suite” usually refers to a one-time purchase version of Office (not a subscription). Example: Office Home 2024 is sold as a one-time purchase for a single PC or Mac. It’s different from Microsoft 365, which is subscription-based and includes ongoing updates and cloud services that vary by plan.
How to buy Microsoft Office Suite?
If you mean Microsoft 365: you choose a plan (Personal/Family or Business), purchase, sign in with a Microsoft account, and then download/install the apps or use them on the web (depending on what your plan includes).
How to download Microsoft Suite on Mac?
If you mean Microsoft 365 / Microsoft office suite for Mac: sign in to your Microsoft account, download the installer for Mac from your account portal (or follow Microsoft’s install steps), then install the apps. Some Office apps may also be available via the Mac App Store, but the cleanest path is usually through your Microsoft account associated with the subscription/license.
How does Google G Suite compare to Microsoft Office 365?
Google G Suite is now called Google Workspace. The common comparison (and common search phrasing) is google suite vs microsoft 365 or google suite vs microsoft office 365:
- Google Workspace centers on Gmail, Drive, Docs/Sheets/Slides, and browser-first collaboration.
- Microsoft 365 centers on Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook plus cloud services and often a stronger desktop-app workflow (plan-dependent).
They’re both collaboration tools for business, just with different defaults and file ecosystems.
Is Google Suite the same as Microsoft Office?
Not the same, but they’re in the same category: both are productivity suites and productivity and collaboration tools bundles. Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) is Google’s suite; Microsoft 365 (Office 365) is Microsoft’s.
How do I integrate Microsoft 365 with my online store (Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, etc.)?
“Integrate” can mean a few things, so here are the most common, realistic ways teams use Microsoft 365 with an online store stack:
- Operational workflows: manage customer emails and scheduling in Outlook; collaborate internally in Teams; store SOPs/assets in OneDrive/SharePoint.
- Reporting workflows: export store data (orders, inventory, payouts) into Excel for analysis and sharing.
- Automation workflows: connect your store tools to Microsoft apps using third-party automation/connectors (for example, sending notifications to Teams, creating tasks, or syncing leads).
The exact integration options depend on your storefront platform and the apps you already use.
Which Microsoft Office plan is best for small businesses or startups?
It depends on what your team actually needs:
- If you primarily want web/mobile Office apps plus business-grade email and cloud storage, entry-level business plans are often designed for that.
- If your team needs the desktop Office apps on everyone’s computers, you’ll want a plan that includes desktop app installs.
A simple rule: choose based on (1) desktop apps vs web-only, (2) whether you need business email, and (3) how many users you’re supporting.

